Daily Market Highlights (20.09.13)

  • The MSE Share Index inched minimally higher during this morning’s session as the gains in HSBC, MIA and Lombard were only partially offset by the declines in BOV, GO and Malita. Meanwhile, the other three active equities, including RS2 and MaltaPost, ended the session unchanged. Download a copy of the Equity Market Summary. Over the week, the local equity benchmark slipped 1% as most of the active equities trended lower.
  • On the bond market, the Rizzo Farrugia MGS Index eased 0.1% lower to 1,020.745 points as Eurozone yields partially rebounded from yesterday’s plunge. After the US Federal Reserve announced that it was maintaining its asset purchase programme at US$85 billion per month on Wednesday evening, yields slumped to a 3-week low of 1.84%. However, the benchmark 10-year Bund yield subsequently recovered to regain the 1.95% level today.
  • The share price of MIA advanced by 2.1% to regain the €1.92 level across seven deals totalling 21,230 shares. The airport operator’s equity is currently 6.7% higher since the start of the year largely due to the record passenger numbers recorded during the same period. As a result, MIA is also reporting improved profitability levels with the net profit for the first six months of 2013 rising by 14.2% to €5.1 million.
  • HSBC inched minimally higher to €2.455 on volumes of 41,661 shares.
  • Similarly, Lombard Bank edged up to a close of €1.86 on a single deal of 6,907 shares.
  • On the other hand, BOV eased 0.4% lower to close at the €2.341 level across thirteen trades totalling 46,378 shares.
  • Similarly, GO’s share price retreated by 0.7% to €1.49 on just 4,120 shares.
  • Likewise, Malita Investments shed €0.01 as the equity dipped 2% lower to the IPO price of €0.50 on a trade of 10,000 shares.
  • Meanwhile, no change was registered in the share price of RS2 Software as it held on to the €1.85 level on volumes of 23,625 shares.
  • MaltaPost’s equity also traded unchanged at the €1.10 level on a deal of 10,000 shares.
  • The only other active equity was Middlesea Insurance as it maintained the €0.80 level on low volumes of just over 1,000 shares.